The students parade, ahead of the March 25 military parade in downtown Athens, began at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Thousands of pupils inundated Amalias Avenue with their blue and white uniforms, many taking selfies as they honored the Greek War of Independence that began on March 25, 1821, putting an end to nearly 400 years of dour Ottoman rule.

Police arrived early and cordoned off traffic from boulevards leading to central Syntagma square.

Roads closed off are:

– Amalia Avenue, both lanes.

– Vas. Sofias Avenue from Sekeri Street towards Syntagma Square.

– Vas. Georgiou A, all of it.

– Eleftheriou Venizelou (Panepistimiou St.), all of it.

– Stadiou Street, between Aiolou Street and Syntagma Square.

– Vas. Olga St., all of it both lanes of traffic.

– Syngrou Avenue, between Αthanasiou Diakou and Dionyssiou Areopagitou Streets.

Public transport has been affected by the parade with changes to the network.